New Delhi: "We received a message about the emergency situation in Ukraine for about a month or so, the Indian embassy also advised us to take precautionary step, so we landed back home," says a 24-year-old student, who returned from Ukraine in the wake of Russia inspired conflict in that country.
Sources said a special flight from Ukraine, comprising Indian nationals, and mainly students landed in Delhi on Thursday morning.
Russia President, Vladimir Putin has declared a 'military operation' in Ukraine, precipitating the ongoing crisis further.
Another student, on her arrival at Delhi airport, said, "The situation where I was living is not as bad as the place is far from the border. But our embassy told us to leave; came back after the advisory was issued."
Meanwhile, Ukraine president Volodymyr Zelenskiy has given a powerful address directed to Russia. "We will defend ourselves, he said. 'Not attack, but defend ourselves. And when you attack us, you will see our faces, not our backs, but our faces."
Zelenskiy made the remarks in a 10-minute address posted on Telegram during which he spoke in both Ukrainian and Russian, international media said.
The Ukrainian leader also said Russia's president, Putin, had not replied to his invitation to hold talks.
On Wednesday, Russia welcomed India's independent position in the UN Security Council twice, which was expressed openly by the Indian external affairs minister and other officials.
Russian Deputy Chief of Mission Roman Babushkin said India has been playing a vital role as a responsible global power and is taking an "independent and balanced" approach to world affairs.
